KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – Ebola has claimed the lives of 1,916 individuals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to official data updated through August 7. The authorities have verified a total of 4,209 cases during this outbreak. This latest figure represents an increase of 29 deaths compared to the previously reported total of 1,887. Additionally, 595 patients are currently in isolation receiving treatment, and 828 people have recovered from the disease.
Ituri remains the most severely affected province, with 3,636 confirmed cases and 1,551 fatalities. North Kivu reports 470 cases and 315 deaths. Haut Uele has documented 91 infections along with 44 deaths, while Tshopo has recorded nine cases and five deaths. South Kivu has seen three cases and one death. Overall, the outbreak has impacted 53 out of 140 health zones across the five provinces reporting confirmed infections.
The latest daily update indicated 89 new confirmed cases and 21 additional deaths nationwide. Of these, Ituri accounted for 73 new infections, while North Kivu reported an additional 12 cases, and Haut Uele saw four new infections. Efforts to follow up on contacts have reached 83.4% of identified individuals across affected regions. Authorities continue to reconcile data from surveillance, laboratories, and clinical records as they update case and death counts.
Ituri remains the epicenter of the expanding outbreak
The Democratic Republic of the Congo confirmed the outbreak in May after laboratory testing identified Bundibugyo virus. The country’s Ministry of Health has led coordinated efforts involving surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, and patient management in affected areas. Additionally, teams implement infection prevention protocols and safe burial practices to curb further transmission. The outbreak has spread across several eastern provinces, where security issues, population movements, and strained healthcare systems complicate ongoing disease control measures.
Ebola can cause symptoms such as fever, intense weakness, body aches, vomiting, and other serious health issues. As the disease progresses, some patients may experience bleeding. This outbreak marks the 17th documented Ebola event in the country since the virus was first identified in 1976. The World Health Organization has been actively supporting response efforts, including case detection, laboratory testing, patient care, and infection control as health teams monitor transmission across multiple provinces.
Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine
Bundibugyo virus differs from the Zaire Ebola species targeted by existing licensed vaccines. Currently, no licensed vaccine or specifically approved treatment exists for Bundibugyo virus disease. Medical teams depend on supportive care, such as hydration, symptom management, and close patient monitoring. Ongoing research efforts aim to develop candidate vaccines and investigational therapies. By late July, Uganda had reported 20 confirmed Bundibugyo cases and two deaths, with no new cases confirmed there after June 21.
This outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo represents the largest epidemic caused by Bundibugyo virus documented to date. It is also the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record based on confirmed case numbers. Transmission remains primarily concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu, which account for the majority of infections and fatalities. Authorities continue laboratory testing, contact monitoring, patient isolation, and care, updating national figures as new surveillance data become available.